Cancer cell targeting driven by selective polyamine reactivity with glycine propargyl estersElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed experimental procedures and characterization data. See DOI: 10.1039/c7cc01934c

Rapidly growing cancer cells have increased levels of intracellular polyamines compared to normal, healthy tissues. Based on the selective reactivity of glycine propargyl esters, probes were synthesized that show evidence for selective polyamine reactivity, which was then applied for selective cancer cell imaging studies. Glycine propargyl ester reactivity shows evidence for selective polyamine reactivity, leading to a new strategy for cancer cell targeting.